Galway In Days Gone By

Terrific storm

All last week, and for a greater portion of this week, the gale which swept all over Ireland blew with terrific force in Galway City. At times, indeed, it was with difficulty that pedestrians ventured on the streets.

In Bridge-street, some electric wires were broken as a result of the storm. The Corrib, owing to the torrential rains which accompanied the gale, rose to an abnormal extent.

In the Bay, choppy seas prevailed, which rendered it dangerous for the pookauns trading along the coast. The material damage done on the whole was small, and the people of Galway have reason to be grateful for this fact.

Motor accident

On Sunday last, a serious motor accident which took place in Shop-street as a result of which, a little girl’s life was seriously endangered.

The facts are as follows: about 12.30p.m., the motor in question, which is the property of Dr. R.B. Mahon, Nile lodge, was being driven along Shop-street by Dr. Mahon’s chauffeur, a man named John Crean, when the child in question, Josephine Dolan, of Bowling Green, was in the act of crossing the road.

Before the car could have pulled up, she was struck and knocked down, becoming unconscious. The chauffeur immediately placed her in the car and drove to the County Hospital, where she was detained. As we go to press, we learn that the little girl is progressing favourably.

1941

Prepared for attack

Galway Corporation on Thursday expressed indignation and resentment at the allegation made at the meeting of the Finance Committee of the Galway County Council to the effect that they were doing nothing to protect the citizens in case of attack from the air.

It was pointed out that the Corporation were vitally interested in this matter, but that they were debarred from building up an A.R.P. scheme [Na Seirbhise Reamhcuraim in Aghaidh Aer-Ruathar, which enforced blackout regulations] inasmuch as the A.R.P. powers for the city, as well as for the county, were vested in the County Council and not the Corporation.

The Mayor, Ald. J.F. Costello, H.C., read a statement vindicating the Corporation. He said that at the County Council meeting the Corporation was made the scapegoat for matters over which they had no control, and this was a poor conception of how to prepare for an emergency.

It was decided to ask the Regional Commissioner to vest A.R.P. powers for the city in the Corporation.

Boil water notice

No reply has yet been received by the Galway Corporation to their appeal to the Local Government Department for approval of the completion of the Rishworth plan for the provision of a full and pure water supply for the city, and financial aid for the work.

Prof. F.S. Rishworth, Consulting Engineer in regard to the comprehensive water supply scheme for the city, wrote stating that he considered it essential to put in the main across the river at Terryland and the reservoir at Clifton Hill to supply the western part of the town at the same time as the filtration plant was bring installed.

Dr. B. O’Beirne, County Medical Officer, wrote stating that the citizens should be advised to continue boiling the water.

Mayor: We will get plenty of publicity from the Press about that matter.

Mr. Faller: The Press are always looking for headlines.

Grow wheat campaign

300,000 acres of wheat more than were grown in 1940 will be required to meet the national bread supply, according to a statement made by Mr. Lemass, Minister for Supplies, in a letter to every member of Dáil Éireann, inviting active cooperation in the “grow more wheat campaign”.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.